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In a disturbing incident on Saturday, a mob led by radical Islamists attacked Christians in Pakistan's Punjab province following allegations of desecration of the Quran. The violent outbreak occurred in Mujahid Colony, Sargodha district, approximately 200 km from Lahore, and resulted in injuries to at least two members of the minority community, one of whom is in serious condition.
In a disturbing incident on Saturday, a mob led by radical Islamists attacked Christians in Pakistan’s Punjab province following allegations of desecration of the Quran. The violent outbreak occurred in Mujahid Colony, Sargodha district, approximately 200 km from Lahore, and resulted in injuries to at least two members of the minority community, one of whom is in serious condition.
The violence began in the morning when some youths in the area accused Nazir Gill Masih, a Christian resident, of desecrating the Quran. This allegation incited a mob, reportedly led by activists from the radical Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), to march towards Nazir’s residence and his shoe factory. They set both the factory and his house on fire and ransacked several shops owned by Christians in the locality. Despite the police arriving to control the situation, the mob managed to lynch and severely beat Nazir before he was rescued and taken to a hospital where his condition remains critical.
Video clips circulating on social media show the mob’s violent actions against the properties of the Christian community. Senior Punjab police officer Asad Ejaz Malhi confirmed that a heavy police contingent dispersed the mob and restored some order. However, the fear and tension among the local Christian families are palpable, with many locking themselves inside their homes to avoid the violent crowd.
Irfan Gill, Nazir’s relative, shared that Nazir had recently returned from Dubai after four years. He refuted the allegations against Nazir, stating that the accusations were false and had endangered the lives of Christian families in the area. The atmosphere remains tense, with the Christian community living in fear of further attacks.
The incident has drawn significant criticism and concern from human rights activists and organizations. Human rights lawyer and politician Jibran Nasir condemned the attack, highlighting the state’s failure to address previous incidents, such as the Jaranwala attack, which has seemingly emboldened those who exploit religious sentiments for criminal acts. Nasir pointed out that the state’s inaction has only encouraged further violence against minority communities.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed serious concern over the situation, urging the Punjab police to restore calm and ensure the safety of the Christian community. They called for immediate action to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent further harm to the minority group.
Sara Taseer, daughter of the slain Punjab governor Salman Taseer, also voiced her concern. She mentioned that the Christian community often reaches out to her for help during such violent outbreaks. With recent bans on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), these communities feel more isolated and vulnerable than ever.
This attack is reminiscent of last year’s violence in Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad district, where a mob burned down at least 24 churches and over 80 houses belonging to Christians following similar allegations of Quran desecration. The recurring pattern of violence against minority communities in Pakistan raises urgent questions about the protection of religious minorities and the need for immediate and decisive government action to prevent such atrocities.
